Las Vegas Bankruptcy Attorney Sentenced To Two Years In Prison For Tax Evasion

            LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Las Vegas bankruptcy attorney Randolph H. Goldberg was sentenced this morning to two years in prison, a $40,000 fine, and three years of supervised release, for his guilty plea to willful tax evasion, announced Daniel G. Bogden, United States Attorney for the District of Nevada. Goldberg also paid $720,719 in restitution at sentencing and must surrender his law license for two years.

            “As this sentence indicates, the penalties are severe if you willfully evade or defeat payment of your federal income taxes,” said U.S. Attorney Bogden.  “Cheating on your taxes is not a way to remove debt and is never a good option.” 

Goldberg pleaded guilty on March 29, 2013, to one count of attempt to evade or defeat tax for the tax year 2008 and admitted that he filed tax returns that significantly understated his taxable income and attempted to hide the income through the use of nominee bank accounts.

According to the facts in the plea agreement, Goldberg’s law firm, Randolph Goldberg, Esq., was organized and incorporated under Subchapter S of the IRS Code, which made any income generated by the firm taxable individually to Goldberg.  In 2009, Goldberg willfully caused the filing of false and fraudulent federal tax returns for himself and the law firm, knowing that the returns contained false and fraudulent information and understated his true income in calendar year 2008. During 2008 and 2009, Goldberg also attempted to conceal the true income of his law firm by causing proceeds generated by the firm to be deposited directly into his personal bank account and to be deposited into a bank account held by a nominee corporation, separate from his law firm practice. 

Goldberg was permitted to self-report to federal prison by Aug. 22, 2013.  

The case was investigated by IRS Criminal Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christina M. Brown and Steven W. Myhre.

Today's announcement is part of efforts underway by President Obama's Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force (FFETF) which was created in November 2009 to wage an aggressive, coordinated and proactive effort to investigate and prosecute financial crimes. With more than 20 federal agencies, 94 U.S. attorneys' offices and state and local partners, it's the broadest coalition of law enforcement, investigatory and regulatory agencies ever assembled to combat fraud. Since its formation, the task force has made great strides in facilitating increased investigation and prosecution of financial crimes; enhancing coordination and cooperation among federal, state and local authorities; addressing discrimination in the lending and financial markets and conducting outreach to the public, victims, financial institutions and other organizations. Over the past three fiscal years, the Justice Department has filed more than 10,000 financial fraud cases against nearly 15,000 defendants including more than 2,700 mortgage fraud defendants. For more information on the task force, visit www.stopfraud.gov.